Fuel control valve



Match 28, 1950 J. HARDING, JR

' FUEL CONTROL VALVE 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May ll, 1944 Z J a W /3 z 0 9 I Z l/ I "59 W w March 28, 1950 i J. HARDING, JR

FUEL CONTROL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1944 Z 7 5 a f Y Z w, w. w E k a .5 Z w I. fl z .h/ A & J a H 'Il- 4 Z I .j,l|l. n I II-THL v I a m H H V 7 6 w /V d J I U/ .9 J V 9 a Z 7 4 z 5 r A, 3 a i M f NT 33 w 6 l w 2 I 1 I 0 ah I s a r l. A H 6 AU w n Z/A l m w fia :1 M im i? J a TO CLOSE Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL CONTROL VALVE John Harding, Jr., Dallas, Tex. Application May 11, 1944, Serial No. 535,142

1 1 Claim.

This invention is a division of my co-pending application, Serial Number 418,431, filed November 8, 1941, now Patent No. 2,350,352, issued June 6, 1944, for Aeronautical fuel control valve, and has reference more particularly to an electromagnetically actuated hydraulically balanced valve especially designed for controlling the flow of fuel, air, or hydraulic, low viscosity oil in aircraft.

In the handling of fuel, particularly in multiengine aircraft, numerous considerations are present, paramount of which is that of safety. It has been common practice to employ conventional disc, cone or poppet type valves operable remotely and manually by means of torque shafts, push-pull devices, bell cranks, cables, pulleys, guides or the like required between the pilot and/or engineers compartment and the valves. With the advent of the larger multi-engine machines the installation of eificient and satisfactory control means for fuel shut-oil or distributor valves has introduced definite hazards, especially in military aircraft. Further, the design of rigid, manually operated controls to obtain (guarantee) proper indexing and torque requirements occasioned by increased full line pressures is a factor requiring careful consideration from the weight and cost standpoint. Moreover, unless a single shut-off valve is employed adjacent to each fuel tank outlet-necessitating one of the aforementioned types of controls to eachthe lengths of fuel pipings between the tanks and valves may be classified as fire hazards due to their vulnerability to machine gun fire in military aircraft.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a valve of the character described herein which will minimize to the greatest extent the aforementioned conditions. A further object of this invention is notonly to provide a simple, light weight and highly efficient valve assembly with a single inlet and single outlet port, but also a valve assembly of the same basic design in which a plurality of inlet and/or outlet ports are provided in a single housing. This latter design will simplify certain fuel system installations where vulnerability "is not a factor for consideration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described, the operation of which completely eliminates the use of manually operated controls, other than a simple light weight momentary contact, double pole switch, which may be mounted in a position readily accessible to the pilot, co-pilot, and/or delegated flight crew members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which has incorporated therein solenoids for closing as well as opening the valve, as well as mechanism for locking the valve in open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which is maintained in its closed position not only by means of a spring but also by means of the pressure existing in the inlet line to the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which has incorporated therein an auxiliary, hydraulically balanced valve to effect a minimum of force to open the valve irrespective of the pressure existing in the inlet line or port.

The hydraulic balance is obtained by reason of the fact that the auxiliary or pilot valve is made of a diameter only slightly larger than the 'eiiec'tive area of the plunger and seal, so that the fluid pressure within the main valve acting on the main valve, plunger and seal, together with the auxiliary or pilot valve, will tend to maintain the auxiliary valve closed, and with this only slightly overbalanced condition existing on the inlet side of the auxiliary valve a small electro-magnetic operator may be used to open the auxiliary valve against high pressure. When the high or inlet pressure is released on the inlet side of the main valve by opening of the auxiliary valve, the main valve can also be opened by the small operator. Furthermore, the hydraulic balancing of the valve structure which permits the use of a very small and light electro-magnetic operator, provides not only a small, compact electric valve, but also provides a valve which will operate from low-power electric current, so that the valve may be used in airplanes for regulating the flow of fluid without adding excessive weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve incorporating therein means for retarding or dampening its closing cycle operation thereby minimizing the customary hydraulic hammering effect of fluid flowing through conventional quick acting valves and also means for automatically flushing or cleaning the valve cylinder and/ or piston walls of any small foreign particles which may become lodged thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve incorporating means for readily altering the relative position of the actuating and locking assembly in relationship to the valve body ports. This is to simplify and minimize interference problems during installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which has incorporated therein means for controlling signal lights for visually indicating to the pilot the open or closed condition of the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which has incorporated therein means for effectively sealing the solenoids and electrical connections of the valve from the corrosive and other effects of the fuel or other liquid which flows through the valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve taken on the line il of Figure 2 and showing the valve in closed condition;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the valve, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, but showing the valve in open condition;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Figure 3, but showing the position of the parts immediately after closing the valve;

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram, illustrating the use of the valve; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified form of valve.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the valve is seen to comprise a casing or body I having internally threaded ends 2 and 3 which permit the connection of the valve to inlet and outlet conduits respectively: The valve is provided with a removable metallic seat 4 upon which a valve proper in the form of a disc 5, preferably formed of synthetic rubber or like oil and gasoline resistant material, is adapted to seat. Instead of a rubber disc, a metallic poppet valve ma be employed.

The valve 5 is secured, as by means of a metallic washer 6 and screws 7, to a piston 8 mounted for reciprocal movement in an enlarged vertically extending bore 9 of the valve.

The valve 5 is adapted to be maintained in closed position by a coil spring ill and by the pressure of the fuel above the piston 8 which may vary from zero to any predetermined design pressure, the spring Ill assisting movement of the valve to the closed position after it has been unlocked from the open position to be presently described. The coil spring I is interposed between supporting disc H, which disc rests on a shoulder provided on the stem of an auxiliary valve 16, and a stationary member I3 supported upon the valve body at the upper end of the bore 9.

The member 13 provides a support for the opening solenoid l4, through which a plunger l5, preferably formed of soft iron or similar material of high electrical permeability extends. The plunger l has removably secured to the lower end thereof the auxiliary valve It, the cffective area of which is slightly greater than the combined effective area of plunger i5 and a sealing member :19. The auxiliary valve is employed to close an opening I! in the center of the valve 5, which opening is in alignment with an opening H8 in the center of the washer 8. Valve i6 also prevents the pressureas, and when existing-in the space between member l3 and piston 8 from forcing plunger i5 upward, thereby causing leakage through valve 5.

For the purpose of sealing the solenoid and plunger l5 from the fuel within the valve, an annular flexible sealing member ill of synthetic rubber or the like, is interposed between the stationary member is and the lower end of the plunger, the outer edge of the member 59 being secured to the member i3 by means of a gland 20, secured to the member it by means of screws 2!, and the inner edge of the member 49 being secured to the plunger [5 by means of a gland 22 which is interposed and secured between the plunger and a lock washer 22 and lock nut 22" on the stem of the auxiliary valve 16. As a result of this construction, the fuel which forces its way through the predetermined clearance 9 between the wall of piston 8 and bore 9 of the valve, is prevented from passing upwardly through the member is and thereby adversely affect the operation of the solenoid or the electrical connections to the latter, while at the same time, the flexibility of the member l3 permits movement of the plunger i5 between the extreme positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, without unduly straining such member. The four bleeder holes H in piston 3 permit rapid escape of fuel trapped above piston 8 through openings H and it during opening cycle.

Secured to the upper end of the plunger i5, as by means of a pin 23, is a head 25 having a notch or recess 26 therein, said head extending upwardly through the solenoid housin 2'3 and a detent 28 slidable transversely on the solenoid housing. The detent 28 is engaged at one end by means of a fiat spring 29 which normally urges the detent towards the right as viewed in Fig. 1, so that when the head 25 of the plunger has been elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3, the detent enters the slot 25 and locks the plunger i5 in elevated position with the valve 5 in the fully open position.

The valve body I is provided at its upper end with a horizontally extending, removable and rotatable ledge portion la which provides a support for the plunger 30 of a closing solenoid 3i housed within a casing 32 secured to the cas ing 21. The plunger 3i? is provided at its upper end with a head 33, which when elevated to the position shown in Fig. l, engages one arm 35 of a bell-crank lever, the other arm 35 of which extends through the detent 2B.

The valve further includes a small single pole double-throw microswitch 36, which is mounted on a bracket 36a fastened to the housings 2i and 32, and the function of which will hereinafter appear.

In order to mor clearly understand the operation of the valve, reference should be made to the wiring diagram of Fig. 5, wherein the parts of the valve which have already been described are designated by like reference characters, but in which certain other elements not heretofore described may be noted as follows:

In order to control the operation of the valve, a control switch 50 of the momentary contact, single pole, double-throw type is provided, preferably within easy reach of the pilot, co-pilot, or his designated assistant, such switch being connested to the opening solenoid M by means of a wire 54 and with the closing solenoid 3! by means of a wire .52. Current for the operation of the solenoids is provided by a battery 53, and in order to visually indicate to the pilot or other operator whether the valve is open or closed, red and green signal lights 54 and 55 respectively are mounted on the instrument panel, and are energized by the microswitch 36 in a manner to be now described.

Assuming that the valve is closed, that is, that the various parts are in the position shown in Fig. .1, and that it is desired to open the valve, the switch 58 is moved from its normal neutral position towards the left, as seen in Fig. 5, and momentarily held in this position until the open-- ing cycle is complete. Removal of the hand from the switch lever permits it to return to its off or neutral position. This energizes the opening solenoid M, causing the auxiliary valve 16 to be lifted to uncover the openings H and i8, permitting any fuel which is trapped in the bore 9 of the valve to fiovv through such openings and into the space below the valve 5. This equalizes the pressure above and below piston 23 so that the solenoid l4 does not have to move the piston 8 against the downward or inlet pressure of the fuel which, in certain aeroplane fuel system installations, amounts to 10 to 50 pounds per square inch. After the pressure is thus equalized, the auxiliary valve comes into engagement with the piston 8 so that continued upward movement of the plunger [5 causes the valve 5 to be moved to the fully open position shown in Fig. 3. Since this movement requires only that the relatively light piston 8 be moved against gravity plus the light pressure (about 1 pound) of the spring in, the pull exerted by the solenoid need not be excessive, and in actual practice, a pull of only about 2 pounds has been found satisfactory. It is to be noted, in passing, that very littl electrical energy is required to open the auxiliary valve 5, since the efiective area of this valve is only slightly greater than the effective area of the rubber seal IS on the plunger. This hydraulically balanced arrangement effects a considerable weight savings in permitting the use of small solenoids and conserves electrical energy.

When the valve 5 has thus been fully opened, the spring 29 becomes effective to force the detent 28 to the right, as shown in Fig. 3, causing it to enter the notch or recess 26 in the head, thereby maintaining the valve 5 in such fully open position against the pressure of the spring iii. No electrical energy is required to maintain the valve in the open position.

The aforesaid movement of detent 28 forces the bell crank lever 3 l to move to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position, it is ready for actuation by the closing solenoid plunger.

At the same time, the microswitch 36 is actuated by the detent 28 to close the circuit containing the red signal light 54, thereby indicating to the pilot that the valve is open, this light continuing to remain lighted as long as the valve is open.

In order to close the valve 5, it is only necessary for th pilot to move the switch 59 from its normal neutral position to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, thereby energizing the solenoid 3|. Energization of the solenoid 3| causes the plunger 3G to be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 4, the head 33 in its movement to this position striking the arm 34 of the bell-crank lever causing the arm 35 of such lever to move the detent 2-8-to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, against the action of the spring 29. This causes the detent to release the head 25, permitting the spring l0 to move both the valve 5 and auxiliary valve IE to closed position, as shown in Fig.

The aforesaid movement of the detent 28 to the left causes the microswitch 36 to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 thereby opening the circuit to the red light 54 and closing the circuit containing the green signal light 55, thereby indicating to the pilot that the valve is closed, the green light continuing to remain lighted as long as the valve is closed.

By mounting the valve on or closely adjacent to the fuel tanks which each valve is designated to control, a quick and efficient shut-off is provided, thereby permitting the conduits leading from the shut-off tanks to remain at zero fuel pressure until the valve is opened. Further by shutting oh the fuel flow through the conduits at or adjacent to the tanks, hazards of fuel loss and fire are minimized in case of breakage or rupture of the conduits leading from the respective tanks.

Referring to Fig. 5, it is again desired to point out that the switch 58 is of the momentary contact type which automatically returns to neutral position upon release thereof. Accordingly, assurance is had that the circuits to the solenoids will be dead whenever the valve is in the open or closed condition, thereby further minimizing the fire hazard and completely eliminating any draw on the electrical power supply of the aircraft.

Referring to Fig. 6, the auxiliary valve in this case is of somewhat different form than that shown in Fig. 1, comprising a disc I6! provided with a tapered edge which seats directly on the edge of an opening IT! in a valve 5|. For the purpose of sealing the solenoid chamber from the valve chamber, a Sylphon bellows I08 is interposed between a disc 18! secured to the member i3 and a supporting disc ll, through which the stem of the auxiliary valve passes.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:

In a valve, a housing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat between said ports, a cylinder extending from said Valve seat, a main valve slidably carried by said cylinder comprising a hollow piston having a transverse bottom wall, a central bore extending through said wall, a first concentric counterbore, a second reduced diameter concentric counterbore, and an annular disc in said first counterbore adapted to seat on said valve seat and having a central opening of smaller diameter than said second counterbore, the wall of said piston being spaced inwardly of the wall of said cylinder to provide a passage therebetween whereby fluid pressure is exerted on said valve for seating said valve on said seat, a pilot valve slidable in said second counterbore and adapted to seat on said annular disc having a valve stem extending through central bore, said second counterbore being formed with bleeder openings communicating with said central opening of said annular disc in the raised position of said pilot valve, a head member fixed to the outer end of said cylinder and formed with a central opening through which said stem loosely engages, a spring about said stem constantly urging both of said. valves to closed position, and a flexible seal be tween said stem and said head member.

JOHN HARDING, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 278,597 Prier May 29, 1883 335,033 Locke Jan. 26, 1886 604,358 Alexander May 24, 1898 1,836,740 Albers Dec. 15, 1931 Number Number Name Date Campbell Sept. 5, 1933 Langdon Mar. 23, 1937 Paullin July 27, 1937 Bryant Aug. 31, 1937 Chilton Nov. 7, 1939 Heine June 3, 1941 Briscoe Dec. 2, 1941 Hinsch Sept. 22, 1942 Harding June 6, 1944 Hurlburt Jan. 8, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany of 1878 Germany of 1878 

